[Marxism] Swans April 26, 2004

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

<http://www.swans.com/>http://www.swans.com/
April 26, 2004 -- In this issue:

Note from the Editor: The "we don't do body counts" policy resurfaced this 
week as images of flag-draped caskets carrying American military casualties 
were published, resulting in the immediate firing of one photographer and 
the scrambling of the Bush administration to put forth their position on 
"respecting the privacy of the victims' families." Fact is, with or without 
access to these powerful images, we are witnessing the gradual implosion of 
Iraq, the increasing number of deaths -- both military and civilian, the 
mounting criticism of America's handling of the war and lack of exit 
strategy, with little hope that we'll set arrogance aside and leave the 
destroyed country to rebuild and plan its future according to its own 
design, while it still can. Then, we'll need to address the implications of 
our actions and the havoc wreaked by our "War on Terrorism," which is in 
essence a War of Fundamentalism. As Milo Clark explains, one must consider 
the respective viewpoints of Ariel Sharon, George W. Bush, and Osama bin 
Laden, then ask, "is terrorism violence by someone of whom I don't approve?"

Pundits may assert Israel and Palestine are irrelevant to our actions in 
Iraq, yet the mounting violence and hatred cannot but be influenced by our 
all-out war on (Arab) terrorists and the behaviors and attitudes condoned 
by the Western powers. Criticism of Israel's actions continues to be met 
with cries of anti-Semitism. This is a complex, divisive and deeply 
emotional topic that Alexander Cockburn and Jeffrey St. Clair have 
addressed head-on in a collection of superb essays published in "The 
Politics of Anti-Semitism." In fact, because of the very complexity of the 
issues, we are publishing a review of this highly recommended collection in 
two parts, the first of which is presented in this edition. In the 
meantime, read the Letters to the Editor regarding Manual García's "Which 
Holocaust Matters" for a demonstration of the sensitivity of the subject 
and the debates that ensue.

One way out of these political quagmires would be to follow the advice of 
Phil Rockstroh, who suggests we retreat from humorless, macho, vain 
narcissism to seditious values, and give our privileged, power-hungry 
leaders a swift kick in the pants. After all, it will take more than mere 
techno-fixes and sustainability solutions to overcome the quest for power 
and its inherent drive toward control of resources. Milo Clark tells us 
why, and reminds us to use local resources produced by local people. The 
struggle for control of resources takes place in an imposed system of law 
and order, which doesn't equate to justice, mind you, as Philip Greenspan 
illustrates; and it is no wonder that many of us, amidst these struggles 
and contradictions, end up along with Rockstroh, in a state of experience 
denied, unknown, and unlived.

It's springtime, and some of our regular contributors decided to play hooky 
(no one can blame them!); hence this shorter edition. As always, please 
form your OWN opinion, and let your friends (and foes) know about Swans.

*****

Here are the links to the pieces:

<http://www.swans.com/library/art10/mgc126.html>http://www.swans.com/library/art10/mgc126.html 

Terrorism, Dare We Define It? by Milo Clark

<http://www.swans.com/library/art10/ga176.html>http://www.swans.com/library/art10/ga176.html 

"The Politics Of Anti-Semitism" Part I: Smear, Slander, And Intimidation 
Book Review by Gilles d'Aymery

<http://www.swans.com/library/art10/procks24.html>http://www.swans.com/library/art10/procks24.html 

Neo-Con Tragedy -- Played As Farce by Phil Rockstroh

<http://www.swans.com/library/art10/mgc125.html>http://www.swans.com/library/art10/mgc125.html 

Techno-Fix And Sustainability: Grappling With illusions by Milo Clark

<http://www.swans.com/library/art10/pgreen40.html>http://www.swans.com/library/art10/pgreen40.html 

Law And Order by Philip Greenspan

<http://www.swans.com/library/art10/procks25.html>http://www.swans.com/library/art10/procks25.html 

The Blur Of Objects Resolves Into Water And Flame Prose Poem by Phil Rockstroh

<http://www.swans.com/library/art10/letter40.html>http://www.swans.com/library/art10/letter40.html 

Letters to the Editor



Louis Proyect
Marxism list: www.marxmail.org 


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